US Open: JJ Spaun grabs one-stroke lead as Scheffler, McIlroy falter

JJ Spaun matched the best opening round ever recorded at a US Open held at Oakmont, seizing a one-stroke lead after 18 holes, while top contenders like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy faltered.

The 34-year-old American delivered a flawless, bogey-free four-under 66 — his lowest score in nine major championship appearances — to tame Oakmont’s notoriously punishing layout.

Spaun’s round tied the lowest first-round score at a US Open at Oakmont, matching Andrew Landry’s 66 from 2016, and marked just the eighth bogey-free round in US Open history at the iconic Pennsylvania venue, which is hosting the championship for a record 10th time.


"I'm just overly pleased with how I started," Spaun said. "I hit a lot of good shots and tried to capitalize on any birdie opportunities, which aren't very many out here.

"But I scrambled really well, too, which is a huge component to playing well at a US Open, let alone shoot a bogey-free round."

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South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence sits one shot off the lead after a solid 67, with South Koreans Kim Si-woo and Im Sung-jae joining five-time major champion Brooks Koepka at two-under 68.

“I definitely think it was gettable,” Koepka said of the Oakmont layout.

The American delivered a highlight-filled round, sinking a 42-foot eagle putt at the par-5 fourth. He stumbled with bogeys at the 10th and 14th but finished strong, rolling in back-to-back birdies — a five-footer at the 17th and a 16-foot putt to close out his round at the 18th.


World number one Scheffler, aiming for back-to-back major titles following his PGA Championship triumph in May, endured a turbulent opening round at the US Open, carding a three-over 73 — his worst first round to par in a major.

Scheffler’s round featured three birdies offset by six bogeys, a rare struggle for the in-form American who had won three of his last four starts, including a golden run that featured Olympic gold in Paris last year.

McIlroy, ranked second, who achieved a career Grand Slam with his Masters victory, carded a 74. Starting from the back nine, he secured birdies on the 11th and 12th holes but struggled later with four bogeys and a double bogey.

The reigning champion DeChambeau recorded a 73, managing two birdies but conceding five bogeys.


American Patrick Reed etched his name into the history books by making only the fourth albatross in US Open history, holing out from 286 yards with a three-wood on the par-5 fourth hole.

It marked the first albatross at any major since Nick Watney achieved the feat at the 2012 US Open at Olympic Club, adding a spectacular highlight to Reed’s round at Oakmont.